Shackle with pivot feature &amp; conveyor system therefor

ABSTRACT

A device ( 10 ) for retaining and associating an animal with a transport system during transport to and through one or more processing operations along a processing line. The device ( 10 ) includes a pivot mechanism ( 12 ) for reliably controlling the orientation of the animal during upward and downward travel on the transport system. More specifically, the device includes a lower portion ( 14 ) for retaining the animal, and an upper portion ( 16 ) for coupling with the transport system. The lower portion ( 14 ) is pivotably coupled with the upper portion ( 16 ) and movable between a first position in which the lower portion ( 14 ) and the upper portion ( 16 ) are in a substantially straight orientation relative to each other, and a second position in which the lower portion ( 14 ) and the upper portion ( 16 ) are in a substantially angled orientation relative to each other in the forward direction.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present continuation patent application is related to and claimspriority benefit of an earlier-filed non-provisional patent applicationhaving the same title, Ser. No. 11/680,769, filed Mar. 1, 2007 and anearlier-filed provisional patent application also having the same title,Ser. No. 60/781,130, filed Mar. 10, 2006. The identified earlier-filedapplications are hereby fully incorporated by reference into the presentapplication.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to devices, such as poultry shackles, forretaining and associating an animal with a transport system, such as aconveyor, during transport to and through one or more processingoperations along a processing line. More specifically, the presentinvention concerns such a device having a pivot mechanism for reliablycontrolling the orientation of the animal during upward and downwardtravel on the conveyor system so as to both avoid interference withadjacent animals and maximize the efficacy of the processing operations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the processing of animals, particularly poultry, the animals aretypically transported to and through various processing operations alonga processing line. At least some of these processing operations areautomated. The animals are suspended from shackles which are, in turn,coupled with a conveyor for transporting the animals relatively rapidlyalong the processing line. The shackles generally depend vertically fromthe conveyor so as to be substantially parallel with one another.

Referring to FIGS. A and B (PRIOR ART), it is sometimes necessary toraise or lower the processing line relative to other portions of theprocessing line. When it is necessary to raise the processing line, theconveyor slopes upwardly. A convex radius connects the previous lowerportion of the conveyor with the upwardly sloping portion. As theshackles travel along this convex radius their relative orientationchanges, such that they are no longer parallel to one another. Morespecifically, they are oriented angularly to one another along radiallines extending outwardly from a center point of the convex radius, suchthat the lower portions of the shackles, which are opposite theconnections with the conveyor, spread apart. Because this change inorientation does not result in physical contact or interference betweenadjacent animals, it is generally not necessary to prevent it.

When it is necessary to lower the processing line, the conveyor slopesdownwardly. A concave radius connects the previous higher portion withthe downward sloping portion. As the shackles travel along this concaveradius their relative orientation changes, such that they are no longerparallel to one another. More specifically, they are oriented angularlyto one another along radial lines extending inwardly toward a centerpoint of the concave radius, such that the lower portions of theshackles, which are opposite the connections with the conveyor, movecloser together. This change in orientation can result in physicalcontact or interference between adjacent animals.

Additionally, even when traveling generally horizontally through thevarious processing operations, such as scalding and de-featheringoperations, some resistance, or rearward force, may result which tendsto push the animals backward and changes their orientation. This cancause a number of problems, including that the changed orientation mayreduce the efficacy of the processing operations.

One solution to the last two problems is to incorporate a pivotmechanism into each shackle and to attach a chain or other linkageextending between a point on the shackle which is below the pivotmechanism and a point on an adjacent shackle which is above its pivotmechanism. In this manner, when the shackle travels along the concaveradius, the pivot mechanism allows the shackle to pivot about the pivotmechanism, and thereby allows the change in orientation. When theshackle travels along the convex radius, or when the shackle travelshorizontally and the animal experiences resistance, the chain preventsthe shackle from pivoting, or from pivoting beyond a particular amount,about the pivot mechanism, and thereby controls the change inorientation.

Unfortunately, the prior art pivot mechanism is prone to failure anddisconnection. When this occurs, the shackle remains connected to theconveyor by the chain or other linkage. As a result, the improperlysuspended and positioned shackle impedes or otherwise interferes withthe processing operations, and can damage the processing apparatuses.Furthermore, removing or repairing the shackle takes time, during whichthe processing operations must be stopped.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a device for retaining and associating ananimal with a transport system during transport to and through one ormore processing operations along a processing line. The device includesa pivot mechanism for reliably controlling the orientation of the animalduring upward and downward travel on the transport system. In oneembodiment, the device is a shackle having stirrups, the animal is apoultry animal, and the transport system is a conveyor system.

In one embodiment, the device includes a lower portion for retaining theanimal, and an upper portion for coupling with the transport system. Thelower portion is pivotably coupled with the upper portion and movablebetween a first position in which the lower portion and the upperportion are in a substantially straight orientation relative to eachother, and a second position in which the lower portion and the upperportion are in a substantially angled orientation relative to each otherin the forward direction.

In one embodiment, the lower portion and the upper portion physicallycooperate to define at least the rearward position. In one embodiment,the first position and the second position may be defined by a channel,and the difference between the straight orientation and the angledorientation may be approximately between 15 degrees and 45 degrees. Inone embodiment at least one position is defined by a stop. In oneembodiment, at least one position is defined by a forward surface of thelower component contacting a rearward surface of the upper component. Inone embodiment, at least one position is defined by a leg which extendsoutwardly and upwardly from the lower portion to contact a portion ofthe transport system.

These and other features of the present invention are discussed indetail below in the section titled DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THEINVENTION.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

Reference is made herein to the accompanying drawings figures, which areas follows:

FIG. A (PRIOR ART) is an elevation representation of shackles travelingalong a convex path;

FIG. B (PRIOR ART) is an elevation representation of shackles travelingalong a concave path;

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of the shackle in astraight orientation corresponding to a first position;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the shackle of FIG. 1 in an angledorientation corresponding to a second position;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of multiple instances of the shackle of FIG.1 moving in a horizontal direction, wherein the shackles are shown inthe straight orientation;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of multiple instances of the shackle of FIG.1 moving in an upward direction, wherein the shackles are shown in thestraight orientation position;

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of multiple instances of the shackle of FIG.1 moving in a downward direction, wherein the shackles are shown in theangled orientation;

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of a second embodiment of the shackle in thestraight orientation;

FIG. 7 is an elevation view of the shackle of FIG. 6 in the angledorientation;

FIG. 8 is an elevation view of a third embodiment of the shackle in thestraight orientation;

FIG. 9 is an elevation view of the shackle of FIG. 8 in the angledorientation position;

FIG. 10A is a fragmentary side elevation view of an upper portion of theshackle of FIGS. 8 and 9;

FIG. 10B is a fragmentary rear elevation view of the upper portion ofthe shackle of FIG. 10A;

FIG. 11A is a fragmentary side elevation view of an upper portion of asecond version of the shackle of FIGS. 8 and 9;

FIG. 11B is a fragmentary rear elevation view of the second version ofFIG. 11A;

FIG. 12A is a fragmentary side elevation view of an upper portion of athird version of the shackle of FIGS. 8 and 9;

FIG. 12B is a fragmentary rear elevation view of the third version ofFIG. 12A;

FIG. 13A is a fragmentary side elevation view of an upper portion of afourth version of the shackle of FIGS. 8 and 9;

FIG. 13B is a fragmentary rear elevation view of the fourth version ofFIG. 13A;

FIG. 14A is a fragmentary side elevation view of an upper portion of afourth embodiment of the shackle in the angled orientation;

FIG. 14B is a fragmentary side elevation view of the shackle of FIG. 14Ain the straight orientation;

FIG. 15A is a side elevation view of a fifth embodiment of the shacklein the straight orientation;

FIG. 15B is a side elevation view of the shackle of FIG. 15A in theangled orientation;

FIG. 16 is a side elevation depiction of the shackle of the presentinvention in operation traveling along a varying path;

FIG. 17A is a fragmentary side elevation view of a sixth embodiment ofthe shackle in the straight orientation; and

FIG. 17B is a fragmentary side elevation view of the shackle of FIG. 17Ain the angled orientation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the figures, An improved shackle 10 is hereindescribed, shown, and otherwise disclosed in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention. Broadly, the shackle 10incorporates an improved pivot mechanism 12 for more reliablycontrolling the orientation of the animal during upward and downwardtravel on the conveyor system so as to both avoid interference withadjacent animals and maximize the efficacy of the processing operations.

Broadly, the shackle 10 retains and associates an animal, such as apoultry animal, e.g., chicken, duck, goose, turkey, with a conveyor orother transport system for transporting the animal along a processingline in which the processing operations occur. In one embodiment,referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the shackle 10 broadly comprises a lowerportion 14 and an upper portion 16. The lower portion 14 includes firstand second spaced-apart stirrups 18 for receiving and retaining the legsof the animal. The upper portion 16 includes a suspension member 20 andthe pivot mechanism 12. The suspension member 20 is an elongated rodextending between and connecting the lower portion 14 of the shackle 10and the pivot mechanism 12.

The pivot mechanism 12 broadly includes an outer component 28 and aninner component 30. The outer component 28 includes first and secondelongated members 32,34 which are oriented parallel to and spaced apartfrom one another, which are fixedly connected, such as by welding, at alower end to the suspension member 20, and which present upper and loweraligned holes. The inner component 30 is received between thespaced-apart first and second elongated members 32,34, and presents anupper hole and a lower channel 36 which correspond, respectively, to theupper and lower aligned holes of the outer component 28. The lowerchannel 36 is an elongated arcing channel approximately between 15degrees and 45 degrees or more in one embodiment, and approximatelybetween 25 degrees and 45 degrees or more in another embodiment. Anupper bolt 40 extends through the aligned and corresponding upper holes,and a lower bolt 42 extends through the aligned lower hole and lowerchannel 36, to couple the outer and inner components 28,30 together in apivoting relationship. More specifically, the outer components 28 arefree to move upon the upper bolt 40; and the lower bolt is free to movewithin the confines of the lower channel 36 between a first position, asshown in FIG. 1, which corresponds to a straight orientation of theshackle 10, and a second position, as shown in FIG. 2, which correspondsto an angled orientation of the shackle 10. An upper portion 44 of theinner component 30 presents one or more spaced-apart holes for couplingthe shackle 10 with the conveyor. In one embodiment, at least one of theone or more of these holes is an elongated channel or is otherwiseenlarged to allow for accommodating different connection spacings on theconveyor.

In one embodiment, all or portions of the shackle 10 are at least partlyconstructed from a metal material or combination of such materials, suchas carbon or stainless steel. In another embodiment, all or portions ofthe shackle 10 are at least partly constructed from a natural orsynthetic material or combination of such materials, such as rubber,nylon, plastic, or fiberglass.

Illustrative operation of the shackle 10, particularly operation of thepivot mechanism 12, is shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 17. Referringparticularly to FIG. 3, the shackle 10 substantially prevents anundesirable change in orientation rearwardly, i.e., opposite thedirection of travel, due to resistance or other rearward force appliedto the animals by the processing operations, and thereby maximizes theefficacy of the processing operations. Referring particularly to FIG. 4,the shackle 10 substantially prevents an undesirable change inorientation rearwardly due to travel in an upward direction. Referringparticularly to FIG. 5, the shackle 10 allows for a desirable change inorientation forwardly due to travel in a downward direction, whichmaintains the animals in a more vertical orientation than they wouldotherwise be and thereby avoids interference with adjacent animals.

Referring also to FIGS. 6 and 7, a second embodiment of the shackle 110is shown in which excess material has been removed from the innercomponent 130 of the pivot mechanism 112 to reduce weight and cost.Sufficient material is retained to define the channel 136.

Referring also to FIGS. 8, 9, 10A, and 10B a third embodiment of theshackle 210 is shown in which the upper aligned and corresponding holeshave been eliminated, and the lower channel of the inner component hasbeen replaced with a lower hole. A stop 240 has been added extendingperpendicularly between rearward portions of the first and secondelongated members 232,234. The lower bolt 242 extends through thealigned and corresponding lower holes, to couple the outer and innercomponents 228,230 together. The outer and inner components 228,230pivot independently about the lower bolt 242 between a rearward positionin which the stop 240 rests against a rearward portion of the innercomponent 230, as shown in FIG. 8, and a forward position in which thestop 240 is spaced apart from the rearward portion of the innercomponent 230, as shown in FIG. 9.

Referring also to FIGS. 11A and 11B, 12A and 12B, and 13A and 13B,second, third, and fourth versions, respectively, of the shackle 210 ofFIGS. 10A and 10B are shown in which either or both of the pivot pointor stop 240 a,240 b,240 c, is relocated, but which otherwise operate insubstantially the same manner.

Referring also to FIGS. 14A and 14B, a fourth embodiment of the shackle310 is shown in which the stop is in the form of a leg 340 which extendsoutwardly and upwardly from the inner component 330. When the shackle310 is in a substantially straight orientation, i.e., traveling level oralong a convex curve, the leg 340 rides close to or against a horizontalmember 350 associated with the conveyor, and when the shackle 310 is inan angled orientation, i.e., traveling along a concave curve, the stop340 is spaced apart from the horizontal member 350.

Referring also to FIGS. 15A and 15B, a fifth embodiment of the shackle410 is shown in which the inner component 430 serves as the stop. Morespecifically, the outer component 428 includes only a single elongatedmember which is coupled with the inner component by the upper bolt 440at the pivot point. When the shackle 410 is in a substantially straightorientation, the rearward portion of the outer component 428 rests closeto or against a forward portion of the inner component 430, as shown inFIG. 15A, and when the shackle 410 is in an angled orientation, therearward portion of the outer component 428 is spaced apart from theforward portion of the inner component 430, as shown in FIG. 15B.

Referring also to FIGS. 17A and 17B, a sixth embodiment of the shackle510 is shown in which the inner component 530 is flexible and the outercomponent 528 is rigid. When the shackle 510 is in a substantiallystraight orientation, the rearward portion of the inner component 530rests close to or against a forward portion of the outer component 528substantially preventing flexure of the inner component 530 in therearward direction, as shown in FIG. 17A. When the shackle 510 is in anangled orientation, the rearward portion of the inner component 530 isspaced apart from the forward portion of the outer component 528 as theinner component 530 flexes, or bends, toward the forward direction, asshown in FIG. 17B. Thus, the flexible inner component 530 is allowed toflex, or bend, in the forward direction but not in the rearwarddirection, thereby accomplishing the same functionality as the previousembodiments.

Thus, in all of its various embodiments, the shackle allowssubstantially little or no change of orientation, beyond a return to astraight orientation, and allows limited change of orientation, betweenstraight and angled, as shown in FIG. 16 and the upper portion issubstantially perpendicular to the conveyor system, as shown in FIGS.3-5.

Although the invention has been disclosed with reference to variousparticular embodiments, it is understood that equivalents may beemployed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scopeof the invention as recited in the claims.

1. (canceled)
 2. A shackle for retaining a poultry animal on a conveyorsystem for moving the poultry animal in a forward direction, the shacklecomprising: an upper portion operable for conveyance by the conveyorsystem; a lower portion including stirrups operable to receive andretain the legs of the poultry animal, the lower portion being movablyattached to the upper portion; and a stop defining at least one positionin which the lower portion and the upper portion are in a substantiallystraight orientation relative to each other.
 3. A shackle for retaininga poultry animal on a conveyor system for moving the poultry animal in aforward direction, the shackle comprising: a lower portion including apair of stirrups operable to receive and retain the legs of the poultryanimal; a leg extending upwardly from the lower portion; and an upperportion operable for conveyance by the conveyor system, the lowerportion being movably attached to the upper portion, and wherein the legcontacts a portion of the conveyor system and defines a position inwhich the lower portion and the upper portion are in a substantiallystraight orientation relative to each other.
 4. An animal retentiondevice for coupling to a conveyor system, the device comprising: a firststirrup and a second stirrup operable to receive and retain an animal; asuspension member substantially rigidly coupled to the first stirrup andthe second stirrup, the suspension member having a stop; and the stopdefining at least one position of the device.
 5. The device according toclaim 4, wherein the device is configured to be coupled to a pivotmechanism, the pivot mechanism coupled to a conveyor system, and thepivot mechanism operable for relative movement between two positions. 6.The device according to claim 4, wherein the device is configured to becoupled to a pivot mechanism, the pivot mechanism coupled to a conveyorsystem, and the pivot mechanism operable to define two positions.
 7. Thedevice according to claim 4, wherein the device is configured to becoupled to a pivot mechanism, the pivot mechanism coupled to a conveyorsystem, and the pivot mechanism operable to control the orientation ofan animal during travel on the conveyor system.
 8. A conveyor system forretaining and moving animals in a forward direction for processing, thesystem comprising: a plurality of independent shackles in series,wherein the plurality of independent shackles are chainless, and atleast one change in elevation, through which the plurality ofindependent shackles maintain a substantially vertical orientation. 9.The conveyor system of claim 8 further wherein the at least one changein elevation is an upward incline and the plurality of independentshackles maintains an orientation substantially perpendicular to theconveyor system.
 10. The conveyor system according to claim 8, whereinat least one of the plurality of shackles is associated with a spacingmechanism operable to keep the plurality of shackles separated duringthe at least one change in elevation, and the spacing mechanism iscoupled to the conveyor system and is associated with a stop to defineat least one position of the at least one of the plurality of shackles.11. The conveyor system according to claim 8, wherein at least one ofthe plurality of independent shackles comprising: a lower portionoperable to retain the animal, wherein the lower portion comprises firstand second stirrups; an upper portion operable for conveyance by theconveyor system, and the upper portion attachable to the lower portion,wherein the lower portion and the upper portion are operable forrelative movement between— (a) a first position in which the lowerportion and the upper portion are in a substantially straightorientation relative to each other, and (b) a second position in whichthe lower portion and the upper portion are in a substantially angledorientation relative to each other; the lower portion substantiallyinhibited from moving in a rearward direction beyond an orientation inwhich the lower portion is substantially straight relative to the upperportion.
 12. A conveyor system for retaining and moving animals in aforward direction for processing, the system comprising: a plurality ofindependent shackles in series, wherein the plurality of independentshackles are devoid of a spacing chain, and at least one change inelevation, through which the plurality of independent shackles maintainsa substantially vertical orientation.
 13. The conveyor system of claim12 wherein the at least one change in elevation is an upward incline andthe plurality of independent shackles maintains an orientationsubstantially perpendicular to the conveyor system.